A process for manufacturing dry sausage. The process includes preparing a dry sausage meat mixture, stuffing the mixture into a casing or mould, fermenting the mixture, heat treating the mixture, cooling the mixture to a temperature sufficiently low to permit slicing, slicing the sausage, placing the sausage onto a conveyor, and passing the conveyor and sausage through a chamber. The process also includes introducing a supply of conditioned air into the chamber, the air having a relative humidity below about 60% and a temperature in the range of at least about 40 F. to 130 F., and introducing a supply of microwaves into the chamber. The air supply and microwaves are selected to reduce the moisture content of the meat to a predetermined moisture to protein ratio.

A process for manufacturing dry sausage. The process includes preparing a dry sausage meat mixture, stuffing the mixture into a casing or mould, fermenting the mixture, heat treating the mixture, cooling the mixture to a temperature sufficiently low to permit slicing, slicing the sausage, placing the sausage onto a conveyor, and passing the conveyor and sausage through a chamber. The process also includes introducing a supply of conditioned air into the chamber, the air having a relative humidity below about 60% and a temperature in the range of at least about 40 F. to 130 F., and introducing a supply of microwaves into the chamber. The air supply and microwaves are selected to reduce the moisture content of the meat to a predetermined moisture to protein ratio.

A process for manufacturing dry sausage. The process includes preparing a dry sausage meat mixture, stuffing the mixture into a casing or mold, fermenting the mixture, heat treating the mixture, cooling the mixture to a temperature sufficiently low to permit slicing, slicing the sausage, placing the sausage onto a conveyor, and passing the conveyor and sausage through a chamber. The process also includes introducing a supply of conditioned air into the chamber, the air having a relative humidity below about 60% and a temperature in the range of at least about 40 F. to 130 F., and introducing a supply of microwaves into the chamber. The air supply and microwaves are selected to reduce the moisture content of the meat to a predetermined moisture to protein ratio.

An apparatus and method for processing a foodstuff comprises a closed conveyor path, a conveyor device, and a treatment chamber. The conveyor path includes an inlet and an outlet. The conveyor device is positioned within the closed conveyor path and configured to receive the foodstuff from the inlet. The conveyor device is further configured to convey the foodstuff along the closed conveyor path toward the outlet. The treatment chamber is positioned within the closed conveyor path downstream of the conveyor device for receiving the foodstuff from the conveyor device. The treatment chamber includes a rotatably driven first kneading shaft configured to collide the foodstuff within the treatment chamber.

An apparatus and method for processing a foodstuff comprises a closed conveyor path, a conveyor device, and a treatment chamber. The conveyor path includes an inlet and an outlet. The conveyor device is positioned within the closed conveyor path and configured to receive the foodstuff from the inlet. The conveyor device is further configured to convey the foodstuff along the closed conveyor path toward the outlet. The treatment chamber is positioned within the closed conveyor path downstream of the conveyor device for receiving the foodstuff from the conveyor device. The treatment chamber includes a rotatably driven first kneading shaft configured to collide the foodstuff within the treatment chamber.

Food processing monitoring systems and method thereof are provided. A method includes obtaining first temperature data from a first temperature sensor at an inlet of a food processing machine; obtaining second temperature data from a second temperature sensor at an outlet of the food processing machine; obtaining current data from a current sensor that is configured to measure current of a motor of the food processing machine; determining presence of food product at the inlet based on a peak current, of the current data at a time the motor starts, being greater than a first current threshold; and logging a temperature of the first temperature data based on the peak current being greater than the first current threshold.

Food processing monitoring systems and method thereof are provided. A method includes obtaining first temperature data from a first temperature sensor at an inlet of a food processing machine; obtaining second temperature data from a second temperature sensor at an outlet of the food processing machine; obtaining current data from a current sensor that is configured to measure current of a motor of the food processing machine; determining presence of food product at the inlet based on a peak current, of the current data at a time the motor starts, being greater than a first current threshold; and logging a temperature of the first temperature data based on the peak current being greater than the first current threshold.

A process for manufacturing dry sausage. The process includes preparing a dry sausage meat mixture, stuffing the mixture into a casing or mould, fermenting the mixture, heat treating the mixture, cooling the mixture to a temperature sufficiently low to permit slicing, slicing the sausage, placing the sausage onto a conveyor, and passing the conveyor and sausage through a chamber. The process also includes introducing a supply of conditioned air into the chamber, the air having a relative humidity below about 60% and a temperature in the range of at least about 40 F. to 130 F., and introducing a supply of microwaves into the chamber. The air supply and microwaves are selected to reduce the moisture content of the meat to a predetermined moisture to protein ratio.

A process for manufacturing dry sausage. The process includes preparing a dry sausage meat mixture, stuffing the mixture into a casing or mould, fermenting the mixture, heat treating the mixture, cooling the mixture to a temperature sufficiently low to permit slicing, slicing the sausage, placing the sausage onto a conveyor, and passing the conveyor and sausage through a chamber. The process also includes introducing a supply of conditioned air into the chamber, the air having a relative humidity below about 60% and a temperature in the range of at least about 40 F. to 130 F., and introducing a supply of microwaves into the chamber. The air supply and microwaves are selected to reduce the moisture content of the meat to a predetermined moisture to protein ratio.

The disclosure relates to an apparatus for food production, in particular a filling machine with a control device that is connected to an input device for operating the apparatus. The input device is configured as a non-contact input device.